Watermelon crusher and seed separator



L. J. QUILLING WATERMELON'CRUSHR AND SEED SEPARATOR Filed June l, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

ATI'U R N EYB Nov. 3, 19.53

L. J. QUILLING WATERMELON CRUSHER AND SEED SEPARATOR Filed June l, 1948 5 sneetssheet '2 ATT'D R N EYS Nov. 3, 1953 f L.. J. QUILLING 2,657,801

WATERMELON CRUSHER AND SEED SEARATOR Filed June l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 y INVENTOR.

` 55H5 J 06f/UNG Nov. 3, 1953 l.. J. QUILLING 2,657,801

WATERMELON CRUSHER AND SEED SEPARATOR Filed June l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

ATTE RN EYB Nov. 3, 1953 n L.. J. QUILLING 2,657,801

WATERMELON cRUsHER AND SEED sEPARAToR 5 ASheets-Sheaet 5 Filed June l, 1948 INVENTOR.

"\ awww/UNG K, 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 YWA'IERMELON cRUsHEn AND l lsnmm..

LeslieL Quilling. Rinzwnpd Okla- Avvlieaiien. June. l 1948?;...Ser1e1`1i0- im? 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a thresher, and more particularly to a thresher for separating the seeds from the pulp of watermelons.

An object of this invention is to provide a watermelon thresher wherein the Watermelons are crushed, screened and treated in such a way that the seeds will be taken from the thresher free of pulp or other particles of the melon under treatment so that the seeds can be used for the purpose of planting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watermelon thresher which is simple instructure, easy to manipulate, and highly 'efficient in action.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmental longitudinal elevational View of the watermelon thresher, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevational view` of the device and illustrating the forward portion of the machine;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device;

Figure 5 is a transverse elevational sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 5 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the'line 1 1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a View showing certain constructional details of the device;

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line I9 I of Figure 1;

Figure ll is a sectional View taken on the line II II of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the Yline I2 I2 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the watermelon thresher is shown mounted on a trailer I9 having a base II and dependingly carried by the base II are the brackets I2 for rotatably supporting the horizontally disposed axle I3 therein. The axle I3 has rotatably supported on each end thereof a wheel I4, Figures l, 2 and 3. Supported on the base II of the trailer I0 is the frame, generally indicated by the reference numeral I5 andin- .cluding the vertically disposedy spacedl postsO I6,-

(Cl. r 209.-?1300).

A2 I1, I8 projecting upwardly from the-:base II and secured'v thereto. Arranged in spaced, parallel, lrelation with respect to the base II are the pair offcross beams I9., said cross beams being secured to the'upper ends of the posts I6, I 1 and I8. Supported on the base II, intermediate the ends of the latter, is the power means for operating the watermelon thresher. The powermeans, Figures 1 and 3, embodies a conventional internal combustion engine for rotating the drive gear 8. Positioned above the engine 20`and dependingly carried by the cross beam I9 is the bracket 2I,'the bracket' 2I having the rotatable shaft 22 journaled therein. Keyed lto shaft 22 is the sprocket 23 and trained over the sprocket 23 and the drive'gear 8 is the endless chain 24. Ar.- ranged in abutting relation to each face of sprocket 23 and keyed to the shaft 22 is a first gear 25, Figure 5, and a second gear 26, Figure 3, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Supported on the cross beams I9 of the frame I5 and positioned above the engine 20 is the hopper 21 having an'open mouth 28 for the ingress therethrough of watermelcns to be thres'necl. The'hopper 21 is provided with a sloping wall 29 and arranged in spaced, parallel relation on the inside of the hopper 21 are the angle irons 30, said angle'irons being secured to the wall 29 by welding, Figure 5. Positioned within the hopper 21 is the crusher, indicated generally bythe ref.- erence numeral 3I. The Crusher 3|, Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6, embodies the bracket 32 secured to the cross beam I9 and journaled in the bracket 32 is the pin 33 carrying the cam 34 positioned Within the hopper 21 and the cam adjustment lever'35 arranged exteriorly of the hopper 21. Supported on the cam 34 is the bearing 3B and rotatably mounted in the bearing 36 is the vhorizontallyv disposed lower shaft 31. Arranged in spaced, parallel relation above the lower shaft 31 is the upper shaft 38 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 39, said upper shaft being fixedly secured to the hopper 21, while the lower shaft 31 is movable towards and away from the wall 29 of the hopper 21 in response to movement of ythe cam adjustment lever for varying the distance between the wall 29 and the crusher 3I, when diierent size watermelons are being threshed. .Keyed to the lower shaft 31 of the crusher 3I are three spaced sprockets 2, 3 and 4, and keyed to the upper shaft 38 of the Crusher 3| are three similar spaced sprockets 4I, 42 and v43, Figure 6. The spaced sprockets 2, 3 and 4 are operatively connected to the complemental "spaced, sprockets 41,742- and by the respect-ive endless chains 44, 45 and 46, there being a plurality of spaced, parallel angle irons 9 welded on said chains. On each side of the crusher 3| are side bars 41 and 48 having their ends secured to the respective bearings 36 and 39. Projecting from the side bars 41 and 48 and secured thereto by rivets 49 are a plurality of flanges 58 for supporting the drag pan 5|. The drag pan 5| is provided with slots 52 for embracingly receiving the respective sprockets of the lower shaft 31 and upper shaft 38. The drag pan 5| has a lip 52 on its lower end and upstanding side walls 53 and 54 for guiding watermelons through the crusher 3|. Operatively connecting the upper shaft 38 to the lower shaft 31 is a screw 55 having its ends connected to the shafts 31 and 38 for moving the latter towards and away from each other. Arranged below the crusher 3| andv secured to the hopper 21 is the guide plate 58 havthe lip 59 on its lower end for guiding the crushed watermelons on to the shaker pan 68. The upper shaft 38 is provided on one end thereof with a pulley 6| for a purpose to be hereinafter described and keyed to upper shaft 38 and arranged intermediate the pulley 6| and the sprocket 4| is the sprocket 62 which is connected to the gear 25 by the chain 63 for driving the crusher.

The crushed watermelon, ater leaving the Crusher 3|, is directed on to the first shaker pan 88, Figures l, 2 and 5. For actuating the irst shaker pan 88 and the second shaker pan 64 arranged in spaced relation below the pan 88, a horizontally disposed pin 85 ie rotatably secured to the post Il and carried by the pin 55 is the sprocket 8:?, the sprocket 66 being driven by the chain 81 which is trained over the gear 29. Secured to the pin 85 is the arm 98 and carried by the upper end of the arm 88 is pin 69 rotatably mounted in the bearing 18, the bearing 18 being dependingly carried by the shaker pan 98. The first or upper shaker pan 88 includes spaced, parallel side walls 1| and 12, a plurality of bottom bars i3 arranged in criss-cross relation, and a heavy mesh screen 19 supported on said bottom bars. A pan guard and 16 is arranged on each side of the pan 89 :for protection against the vibrating pan 88. The pan 94, spaced below the upper pan 98 is caused to vibrate by means of the arm 'l1 having one end rotatably mounted in the bearing 19 which is carried by the pan 64. The other end of the arm 11 is keyed to the pin 19, the pin 'i9 being rotated by the sprocket 88 which is spaced below the sprocket 96 and connected to the latter by the endless chain 8 The shaker pan Figure 4, has a construction similar to the shaker pan 59 and embodies the pair of spaced, parallel, side walls 82 and 83, the bottom supporting` 'cars 84 and the heavy mesh screen 85 supported on the bars 9:1. The respective rear ends of the shaker pans 58 and 64 are mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the ground, as shown in Figures l, il., 8 and 9 by means of the adjusting block 88 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in each of the rear posts I5 fabricated of angle iron. Threadedly engaging the top oi the adjusting block 88 is the adjusting screw 81 having a handle 98 therein. The screw 81 extends through an aperture in the cross bar 89 which interconnects the respective tops of the posts i8. Carried by the movable adjusting blocks 8S are a pair of horizontally disposed, spaced, parallel, pins 93 and 9| which dependingly carry the arms92 and 93 and respectively, the arms 92 and 93 being connected to the complemental depending lugs 94 and 95 of the pans 68 and 64, to thereby raise or lower the latter when the screw 81 is actuated. Positioned below the pans 68 and 64 and carried by the frame l5 is the seed catch basin 96 having tapering side walls for guiding the seeds deposited therein towards the opening 91 in the bottom of the seed catch basin 96.

The seeds collected in the seed catch basin 96 are cleaned and conveyed from the basin 96 by the auger cleaner, Figures l, 2, 3 and 5 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 91 and includes the lower tubular housing 98 having an opening 99 therein for the reception of the seeds from the basin 86. The housing 98 is perforated for the egress therethrough of some of the juice Y of the watermelon. Arranged in registry with the upper end of the lower housing 98 and secured thereto by the ring |98 is the center section |8I. The center section |8| embodies the longitudinally extending bars |82 for supporting the screen |83 so that any immature seed being conveyed by the auger cleaner 97 will be ejected through the screen |83. Positioned on the upper end of the center section |81 is the reducing cone |84 for attaching the upper perforated casing |85 to the center section |9I, the top end of the upper casing |85 .being provided with an opening |96, Figure '7, for the egress therethrough of the seeds. Rotatably mounted in the auger cleaner 91 and extending longitudinally thereof is the steel auger |81 having a rubber facing thereon. The auger |91 has on its upper end the pulley i88 which is driven by the endless belt 55 trained over the pulley 6| of the shaft 38.

The seed conveyed by the auger cleaner 91 pass-es through the opening |86 into the tumbler or recleaner indicated at |89, Figures l, 2, 3, 4 and 7. The recleaner |09 has a tubular casing I9 having a shaft I l rotatably mounted therein. The ends of the shaft seat in bearings ||2 and I3 supported on the respective brackets |l4 and l5 mounted on the cross beams I9 and guide bearings ||6 rotatably space the ends of the casing |18 from the brackets ||4 and ||5. Projecting radially from the casing ||8 and secured thereto are the bars ||1 which have their ends secured to the screen ||8. Positioned within the tumbler |89 are the rods H9 which brace the screen ||8. The seeds discharged into the tumbler |89 are cleaned by means of the pair of brushes, the brush |28 being positioned within the tumbler |99 and rotatably mounted on the casing ||8 by the arms |2| and brackets |22 secured thereto. The brush 51 is flxed in position adjacent the outer face of the tumbler |89 and supported on the bracket |23. One end of the tumbler |89 is closed by the end wall |24 which is supported by the arms |25 while the other end of the tumbler is closed by the end plate |28 supported by the arms |21. The tumbler is rotated by means of the endless belt |28, the belt |28 -being connected to the pulley 8|. Disposed below -the Ytumbler |89 is the spout |29 for the egress therethrough of the cleaned seeds into the seed bin |38.

The seed bin |38, Figures 1, 3, 10 and 1l, includes the tapering side walls |3 and the bottom gate |32 slidably supported on the bars |33 and |34, the gate |32 being provided with the handle |35 for actuating the gate |32. The gate |32 of the seed bin |39 has a plurality of apertures |36 extending therethrough for draining off the juice from the watermelon seeds.

The watermelon thresher mounted on the trailer 0 is mobile and adapted to be towed by means of the tubular tongue hitch |31, Figures 1, 3 and 12.

The operation of the watermelon thresher is as follows:

The watermelons to be seeded are fed to the crusher 3| through the open mouth 28 of the hopper 21, the crusher 3| being actuated by the engine which drives the sprocket 23 keyed to the shaft 22. The upper shaft 38 of the crusher 3| is driven by the endless chain 63 trained over the gear and sprocket 62. The crusher 3| is inclined relative to the horizontal and embodies an upper shaft 38 and a lower shaft 31 operatively connected thereto by means of sprockets and endless chains on the last-named sprockets so that the lower shaft 31 is driven from the upper shaft. Carried by the endless chains of the Crusher 3| are a plurality of spaced angle irons 9 which coact with the iixed angle irons 30 on the tapering side wall 29 of the hopper 21 to crush the watermelons. The crushed melons are guided on to the lip 59 of the guide plate 59 and then onto the first shaker pan 60.

The shaker pan 60 is caused to vibrate by means of the arm 68 rotatably mounted in bearing 10, the arm 68 being pivoted by the rotary motion of the pin 65 driven by the sprocket 66. Crushed melon is fed onto the pan 60 where a partial separation of the pulp and seeds takes place due to the vibration of the pan 60, with the seeds passing downwardly through the screen 14 of the pan 60 while the remainder of the melon moves toward the rear of the thresher. The partially separated seeds are received on the vibrating shaker pan 64 disposed below the shaker pan 60 and actuated by a means similar to the means for vibrating the pan 60, as previously described. A further separation of the seeds from the melon is effected on the shaker pan 64, with the seeds passing downwardly through the screen of the pan 64 and the pulp moving towards the rear of the thresher. The rear end of each of the pans 60 and 64 is adjustable relative to the ground, the adjusting means including the screw 81 engaging the adjusting block 86 which is slidably mounted in the posts I6 and secured to the respective pans 60 and 64 by the arms 92 and 93. The seeds and juice passing downwardly through the screen 14 are collected in the seed catch basin 96 and guided to- Ward the opening 91 and into the registering opening 99 of the inclined separator. 'I'he seeds and juice are conveyed by the steel auger I 01 through the lower perforated housing 98 where part of the juice will be drained from the seeds. As the seeds are further conveyed along the cleaner 91, the seeds pass over the screen |03 of the center section |0| where the immature seeds will be ejected, and nally the seeds are carried through the upper casing |05 and pass through the opening |06 into the tumbler or recleaner |09. The seeds are cleaned in the rotating tumbler |09 by the coaction of the brushes 51 and |20. The cleaned seeds then pass through the spout |29 and are collected in the seed bin |30 where the remaining juice is drained therefrom through the apertures |36 in the gate |32.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a watermelon Crusher and seed separator, a frame, an inclined separator supported by said frame and including a cylindrical housing comprising a lower perforated section having an opening therein for the reception of watermelon seeds and stock, said perforations therein to allow juice to pass therethrough, a. center section of enlarged diameter arranged in registry with the upper end of said lower section and secured thereto, said center section embodying a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinally extending bars, an annular screen wall supported by said bars, said screen wall having openings of a. size to permit immature seed to pass therethrough and to retain the mature seeds therein, a reducing cone section positioned on the upper end of said center section, an upper perforated section connected tosaid reducing cone and provided with an opening for the egress therethrough of seeds, and a screw member rotatably mounted in said separator and extending longitudinally therethrough and adapted to be connected to a power source, said screw member having a rubber facing thereon to move the material upwardly through said housing.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, and further including a recleaner for receiving the seeds from the upper perforated section.

LESLIE J. QUILLIN G.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 359,044 Welker et al Mar. 8, 1887 408,243 Ladd Aug. 6, 1889 417,885 Sanguinetti et al. Dec. 24, 1889 469,026 Hubert Feb. 16, 1892 492,644 Vickers Feb. 28, 1893 612,744 Methven et al Oct. 18, 1898 772,691 Chase Oct. 18, 1904 840,296 Caldwell Jan. 1, 1907 960,577 Nichols June 7, 1910 1,185,715 Ridgely June 6, 1916 1,307,692 Northrop June 24, 1919 1,320,968 Baudendistel NOV. 4, 1919 1,550,423 Brass Aug. 18, 1925 1,789,444 Methewson Jan. 20, 1931 2,360,964 Moroni Oct. 24, 1944 2,365,077 Hertzler et al. Dec. 12, 1944 2,429,488 Rodery Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,651 Canada Dec. 5, 1916 798,896 France May 28, 1936 

